SECRET MENU OFFERING: PODCAST MEDIA TRAINING FOR AUTHORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, COACHES, AND CREATIVES

One of my clients used to tell me how much she hated the “So how did you get here?” question that kicks off so many podcast interviews.

She used to loathe telling her “origin story” and, as a result, would stumble through it, leading to a narrative that felt disjointed and rambly.

After listening to thousands of hours of podcast interviews, I am 100% certain that she is not the only one who feels this way. I can immediately tell when a guest feels uncomfortable with telling this story. They falter. They rush through it. They make awkward comments asking the host how much they really want to know. Or worse - they deliver it in a robotic way that feels as though they’re reading from a teleprompter. 

They don’t feel at ease, and the listener can tell. 

If this were a cocktail party or a brunch between friends, it wouldn’t really matter. But our goal for being on podcasts is to build our audiences, so delivering our story and keeping people engaged is a skill we must always be building. 

The reality is that when someone clicks on your podcast interview, there is no guarantee that they will make it all the way through – even if they’re devoted listeners to the podcast you’re on. 

Competition for attention is fierce, so how can you capture and then sustain their attention long enough to motivate them to jump on your email list or subscribe to your podcast? 

What Is Media Training?

It all comes down to media training, which so few podcast publicists are talking about right now. There’s an enormous emphasis on pitching but far less direction on what happens when you’re actually recording. 

When I worked with my client on her origin story, I advised her on how to craft a narrative that respected her boundaries of what she was willing to publicly share while emphasizing what made her message and her story distinct. 

Then, I taught her how to guide the conversation so that even if the host gets off track or didn’t do their research, she can still incite curiosity, deliver value, and encourage people to engage with her work elsewhere.

Finally, we talked about how to mention her offerings throughout the conversation in a way that felt organic and relevant, rather than waiting until the end when the host asks you where people can learn more about you. 

All of these modifications – and the practice that we did together – led to a massive shift in how she was showing up to interviews.

As a result, she had more fun, built a stronger rapport with the host, and created more opportunities for listeners to interact with her outside of each interview. 

This is just one story. 

Over the course of my decade-plus career, I’ve worked with dozens of entrepreneurs and authors on how they can capture and sustain attention throughout an interview – entrepreneurs who were trying to sell self-published and traditionally published books, folks who had physical products to move, and service providers who were leveraging podcasts to enroll people into their group programs.

That’s why I’m confident that it only takes a few shifts to turn an interview that would fall flat into one that leaves people wanting to hear more from you. 

Typically, media training is something I’ve exclusively offered to my long-term clients, but I’m excited to be offering it as a standalone service for the first time in my business.

MEDIA TRAINING IS for you if you: 

• Feel awkward introducing yourself or telling your story

• Aren’t sure how to promote your product, book, or services in a way that feels authentic or relevant 

• Always wait until the end to mention where people can find you (There are so many fun and creative ways to do this throughout the entire interview.) 

• Ramble or easily lose track of the question that was asked

• Feel like you could be delivering your message in a way that’s clearer and more impactful

Takeaways could include: 

• Refining your origin story so it creates a foundation for credibility, highlights your humanity, and sets the stage for the host to ask thoughtful, targeted questions

• Knowing what to cut out of your story or message, especially when you have a natural inclination to share alllll the things

• Tactfully using metaphor and analogy to leave a resonant image in the minds of listeners (that cuts through the noise and distractions all around them)

• Seeding opportunities for connection throughout the entire interview (i.e. sending people to your podcast, your email list, your program, etc.) 

• Knowing exactly how to direct the conversation and keep the host focused when they go off track 

• Feeling confident enough to express your strong point of view in a way that ruffles just enough feathers  

IT COMES DOWN TO PRACTICE.

While you can read tips all day long – or even right before an interview – it comes down to feeling grounded in your message. And that is a result of practice. 

Together, we’ll identify your strengths, workshop your areas for improvement, and practice delivering your message in a way that’s in alignment with your years of experience, depth of wisdom, and the fullest expression of your personality. 

Here’s how it works:

Step 1. I listen to a few podcast interviews you’ve done and make notes on what I think could be improved based on your goals. I’ll also point out your strengths and the key phrases that evoke emotion or curiosity so you can return back to them over and over again.

Step 2. We meet together for 60-minutes to discuss the shifts you can make before putting the advice into practice. This includes doing a mock interview based on sample questions I’ve created from my research.

Step 3. I’ll send you a written recap with your strengths + areas of improvement and a recording. You’ll also receive a list of questions that you can use on your own or with a peer to continue building this skill.

I want to be very clear.

This is not a “best practices” training where everyone gets the same advice. It’s customized to what’s best for you, your voice, and your distinct message. 

PRICING

My need to earn an income in tandem with my liberatory values means that I offer a sliding scale for all of my services. For those of you who are unfamiliar with how this works, tier 2 is for individuals who can pay the full rate while tier 1 is for folks who are experiencing financial hardship and for whom the full price would prohibit them from being able to participate in the offer. No proof of financial hardship is required. Please responsibly choose the best tier that fits your needs.

TIER 2 (FULL PRICE): $650

To book your session, click here.

TIER 1 (SOLIDARITY PRICE): $325

To book your session, click here.

Fine print: No refunds or cancellations for any reason. 

After you click, you’ll be redirected to a scheduling page where you’ll choose a date and time that works for you. Then you’ll be sent to an invoice for the sliding scale price you’ve chosen. Finally, you’ll pay. After, you’ll receive a confirmation email from me where I’ll ask you a few questions that will help me start doing my research.

If you have any questions for me, feel free to reach out cher@ginkgopr.com. I can’t wait to chat with you.

FAQ

What if I haven’t recorded any podcast interviews yet? Is this still for me?

If you haven’t recorded any yet but you have one coming up, this is definitely still for you. If you haven’t recorded any and don’t have any on the books, I recommend waiting until this information is more immediately relevant for you.

Do you offer payment plans?

Yes! I’m always willing to split up payments. Email me at cher@ginkgopr.com and we can discuss.